[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42505-42506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17583]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVE03000 L51100000.GN0000. LVEMF1201550.241A; NVN-91032; MO 
4500035419; TAS: 14X5017]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Long Canyon Mine Project, Elko County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
(FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wells 
Field Office, Elko, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Long Canyon Mine, and by this notice is 
announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public 
comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until September 4, 2012. 
The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced 
at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers, and the 
BLM Web site at: www.blm.gov/rv5c. In order to be included in the Draft 
EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping 
period. The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation upon publication of the Draft EIS.

[[Page 42506]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Long Canyon Mine 
Project by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 775-753-0385.
     Mail: BLM Elko District Office, Wells Field Office, Attn: 
Whitney Wirthlin, 3900 E. Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada 89801.

Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Wells Field 
Office, 3900 E. Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada, 89801.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Whitney Wirthlin, project lead, 
telephone: 775-753-0342; email: [email protected]. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to 
contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Newmont Mining Corporation (Newmont) 
proposes to construct and operate an open-pit gold mining operation, 
which would include one open pit, a heap leach pad, one waste rock 
dump, a tailings storage facility, and other ancillary facilities. The 
mine would be located on the eastern side of the Pequop Mountain Range, 
about 30 miles east of Wells, Nevada, and 32 miles west of West 
Wendover, Nevada, and 5 miles south of Interstate 80. Currently, 
Fronteer Development, a subsidiary of Newmont, is authorized to disturb 
up to 115 acres for exploration purposes. The associated disturbance 
for the proposed operations would increase to 1,631 acres of public 
land, including 480 acres of split estate lands of Federal surface and 
private subsurface. The projected life of the mine is 8 to 14 years, 
including construction, operations, and closure and post-closure 
monitoring. An estimated annual workforce for operations would be 
approximately 300 to 500 people during the life of the mine.
    Fronteer is currently conducting exploration activities in this 
area that were analyzed in two environmental assessments (EA), the 
NewWest Gold USA Inc. Long Canyon Exploration Project (July 2008, EA 
No. BLM/EK/PL-2008/011) and Fronteer Development (USA) Inc. Expanded 
Long Canyon Exploration Project (June 2011, DOI-BLM-NV-N030-2011-00001-
EA). The Long Canyon Mine is in conformance with the Wells Resource 
Management Plan (RMP) and the proposal is in conformance with the 
approved decisions of the RMP.
    The issues identified during scoping will be used to develop a 
range of alternatives, including a no-action alternative. Mitigation 
measures will be considered to minimize environmental impacts and to 
ensure the proposed action does not result in unnecessary or undue 
degradation of public lands.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. 
At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues:
    (a) Potential effects to archaeological resources in the area;
    (b) Potential effects to greater sage-grouse posed by the proximity 
to an active sage-grouse lek;
    (c) Potential effects to viewshed in and around areas of Visual 
Resources Management Classes I through IV;
    (d) Potential impacts to the water supply of Wendover, Utah, and 
West Wendover, Nevada; and
    (e) Potential effects to the Area 7 mule deer herd and the mule 
deer migration corridor associated with the herd. The proposed project 
area is located in a mule deer migration corridor.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 
36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Native American tribal consultations will be 
conducted in accordance with policy, and tribal concerns will be given 
due consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, 
State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be 
interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project are 
invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may 
request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating 
agency.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501 and 43 CFR 3809.

Kenneth E. Miller,
District Manager, Elko District Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-17583 Filed 7-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P